Structural framing member and prefabricated panel structure

• US 5,359,826 A
• Filed: 10/26/1992
• Issued: 11/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Multuloc International Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Multuloc International Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Grearson, Kenneth R.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIDGILL JR, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US07/966,756
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 52/738, 52/731.7, 52/762, 52/241, 52/463, 52/726.1, 52/710, 52/730.3, 52/582.1, 52/650.1, 403/21, 403/300, 403/312, 403/348, 403/363
• US Class Current: 52/650.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0413 being built up from several parts
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0434 the open cross-section free of enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0439 the cross-section comprising open parts and hollow parts
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/046 L- or T-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0465 square- or rectangular-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2003/0473 U- or C-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/07 at least partly of bent or otherwise deformed strip- or sheet-like material

Abstract

A structural framing member having a base and two opposing side walls projecting from the base in a direction approximately perpendicular to the base. Each side wall has an intermediate flange which is approximately parallel to the base and which divides each corresponding side wall into a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion is offset from the upper portion by a distance equal to the width of the intermediate flange. A distance between the lower portions of the side wall is greater than a distance between the upper portions of the side wall. Each side wall has an upper flange directed inward toward each other. Each upper flange has a terminal end portion which is angled downward toward the base and is approximately perpendicular to the upper flange. The terminal end portions are spaced apart from each other thereby defining a continuous slot along a longitudinal axis of the structural framing member. Two structural framing members are positioned on opposing sides of a panel. The panel is supported by and secured to the two opposing structural framing members to form a prefabricated panel structure.

Claims

1. A structural framing assembly comprising:

two elongated structural framing members each comprising a base having two opposing sides, two opposing side walls each projecting from corresponding said sides of said base in a direction approximately perpendicular to said base, each said side wall having an intermediate flange approximately parallel to said base, each said intermediate flange dividing each corresponding said side wall into a first side wall portion and a second side wall portion, a first plane defined by said first side wall portion being approximately parallel to a second plane defined by said second side wall portion, a first distance between said first side wall portions being greater than a second distance between said second side wall portions, each said second side wall portion having an upper flange directed toward an opposite said second side wall portion and positioned approximately perpendicular with respect to said side walls, each said upper flange having a terminal end portion angled toward said base and approximately perpendicular to said upper flanges, and said terminal end portions spaced apart from each other forming a continuous slot along a length of the structural framing member, said base and said side walls defining a longitudinal hollow space; and

a first of said structural framing members longitudinally aligned with respect to a second of said structural framing members, both said bases positioned within a same approximate plane;

a splice plate, said splice plate having a first through hole and a second through hole, a first fastener extending through said first through hole and within said continuous slot of said first structural framing member, a second fastener extending through said second through hole and within said continuous slot of said second structural framing member, securement means for fixing said first fastener with respect to said first structural framing member and for fixing said second fastener fixed with respect to said second structural framing member; and

a splice member positioned within said longitudinal hollow space of said first structural framing member and within said hollow space of said second structural framing member, said splice member spanning at least a portion of both said structural framing members, and said splice member secured to said first structural framing member and secured to said second structural framing member.

2. A structural framing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said splice member is a plate.

3. A structural framing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said securement means further comprise:

a first nut having a first internally threaded through hole engagingly mateable with said first fastener, said first nut having two opposingly parallel first grooves mateable with said terminal end portions of said first structural framing member, a second nut having a second internally threaded through hole engagingly mateable with said second fastener, said second nut having two opposingly parallel first grooves mateable with said terminal end portions of said second structural framing member, said first nut positioned within said continuous slot of said first structural framing member, and said second nut positioned within said continuous slot of said second structural framing member.

4. A structural framing assembly according to claim 1 further comprising:

a panel supported upon said intermediate flange of said first structural framing member and an aligned said intermediate flange of said second structural framing member.

5. A structural framing assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a closure plate having one plate end portion secured to an upper surface of one of said intermediate flanges and an opposite plate end portion secured to a fixed structure.

6. A structural framing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said splice member further comprises a roll formed continuous sheet metal member that conforms to at least a portion of base inner walls of said base, side inner walls of said side walls and flange inner walls of said intermediate flanges.

7. A structural framing assembly according to claim 6 wherein said splice member has a C-shaped cross section.